Mancini's men favourites for FA Cup glory

By James Milton 8:28PM 2 DEC 2012

MANCHESTER CITY are out of the Champions League and trailing rivals Manchester United in the Premier League but bookmakers rate Roberto Mancini’s men as 11-2 favourites for the FA Cup after the third-round draw.

City had been 6-1 co-favourites with United and Chelsea before the draw was made but while they were handed a home tie against Championship side Watford and their fellow market leaders face tougher trips to West Ham and Southampton respectively.

United are out to 13-2 to get past the Hammers and go on to win the trophy while Chelsea, who lost at Upton Park on Saturday, are as big as 7-1 with Boylesports to retain the trophy they won last season under Roberto Di Matteo.

Arsenal are 10-1 fourth-favourites for the cup, despite a tricky away draw at Swansea, who beat them 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday. There is another all-Premier League tie in the shape of QPR versus West Brom and Harry Redknapp, who guided Portsmouth to cup glory in 2008, is 66-1 to get his hands on the trophy again.

Plenty of Premier League teams will be more concerned with staying in the top flight and bet365 go 11-4 that 15 or a maximum of 16 qualify for the fourth round. It is 100-1 that nine or fewer of the big guns make it through while Hills offer 16-1 that three or more non-league sides progress to the fourth round of the competition.

Match in Focus

19:45 We 4Mar BT1

Newcastle v
Man Utd

Home Win

Draw

Away Win

Key stats

There hasn’t been more than a one-goal winning margin in Newcastle’s last 12 home games

Expert verdict

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United remain an enigma. They look defensively vulnerable, lack penetration up front and, at times, look totally disjointed in midfield. However, they keep on nicking victories, compiling a W11, D4, L2 record in their last 17 league outings and should do just enough to beat Newcastle.